rons of this period.
Her dress was neat and well chosen, a chintz cotton gown, of a very
pretty blue stamp, blue silk quilt and a spotted figured apron. The
vivacity of her manner and the winsomeness of her behavior were
prepossessing, and she was beautiful to look upon: her complexion as
dazzling white as snow in sunshine; except her cheeks, which were a
bright red; and her lips, of a still deeper crimson. Her small oval face
was surmounted by a wealth of dark brown hair, craped up with two rolls
on each side and topped with a small cap of beautiful gauze and rich
lace,--a style most becoming to a girl of her age. Health, activity,
decision were written full upon her, whether in the small foot which
planted itself on the ground, firm but flexible, or in the bearing of
her body, agile or lofty.

She was the only child of Mr. Allison and a much admired member of the
city's middle class. And while it is true that a certain equality in
class and social refinement was an attribute of the American people
which found great favor in the eyes of the older world inhabitants, it
is equally true that this equality was more seeming than real. This was
due to a great extent to the distinction established by the wealth and
the liberties enjoyed by the various classes of people. It was said, and
not without a semblance of truth, that the inhabitants of Philadelphia
were rated according to their fortunes. The first class was known as the
carriage folk, who proclaimed, almost without exception, their pretended
descent from the ancient English families by their coats of arms
imprinted upon their carriage doors. The second class was composed of
the merchants, lawyers, and business men of the city; and the third
class, were those who exercised the mechanical arts. These felt their
social inferiority and never hoped for any association with the upper
classes. The Allisons were of the middle rank, and were looked upon as
its most respected members.

Plain, simple-living folk, they made no pretense to display. Neither did
they affect aristocracy. Their manner of living was as comfortable as
their modest means would allow. It was a common habit for the people of
this class to indulge in luxury far beyond their resources and no small
amount of this love of ostentation was attributed to the daughters of
the families. In this respect Marjorie offended not in the least.
Whether assisting her father in the shop during the busy hours, or
presiding